Afghanistan

Strong Earthquake Jolts Afghanistan

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocked northeast Afghanistan close to the country's borders with Pakistan and Tajikistan, leaving at least 30 people across the region injured, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake, which measured 203.5 kilometres deep, struck about 280 kilometres northeast of the Afghan capital Kabul at 11:44 pm, the USGS said on its website.

Kabul residents rushed out of their homes and buildings on what was a bitterly cold night amid fears of aftershocks, while the quake also caused buildings to sway in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Officials meanwhile confirmed at least 12 people were injured and hospitalized in Jalalabad, in eastern Nangarhar province.

Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah meanwhile was scheduled mid-morning Saturday to hold an emergency meeting over the quake with members of the National Committee of Natural Disaster Management, his office said.

"The powerful quake has hit northeast, east and central Afghanistan last night. Emergency response teams have been assigned to affected areas," Abdullah said via his Twitter account.

The earthquake meanwhile appeared to continue for at least 30 seconds, while Twitter users as far away as New Delhi said they felt its impact.

At least 30 people were injured as a result of the quake in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar and 12 in Jalalabad, said officials.